Rugby was neither game nor venue on this Lion’s Tour.
Just me, a classic car (Peugeot 205 1.9Gti), a tent (4all seasons), books, boards, the odd change of clothing and my Amazing Adventures in search of a broach (into the heady vat of success).
I left 31 towns* gawping after my little red devil along with 800-odd buyers (the number, not the people) clutching my tome, signed and dedicated, hopefully to pass on the word by mouth or email. For the record, I averaged 25 a day (quite chuffed).
Incidentally, to any who may have found their way here (this blog), I would like to add (-vertise) that anyone may buy a signed copy direct from my publisher’s website, www.ravensquill.com, at the same full price of £14.99 (the publisher bears the postage cost).
Leaving home on July 24th and returning late on August 29th, I spent 23 nights under canvas (going through 2 tents - a pole broke on the first) in Somerset, Devon, Yorkshire and Worcestershire, and with relatives in Devon, Cheshire and Durham.
Being a man of cautious wit, I brought two tents, a sleeping bag and duvet, two inflatable beds and a sleeping mat (the last time I went with my boys, two out three inflatables suddenly deflated).
My amiable hosts in most towns were the staffs of Waterstone’s stores, with three Border’s for good measure. (N.B. The whole signing tour was kindly arranged with the help of Waterstone’s Central Children’s Buyer and Events Organizer.)
Though my stomach rebelled as I headed north (I think it was the transition from alkaline to acid water, my back (missing disc) bore up under the enormous bending strains of crawling in and out of my petite walkers’ tent after sampling the curry houses of several parts of the country (no - I have eliminated the curry houses as the cause of that rebellion - merely guilty of fomenting the great gales that ravaged my tent all through some weary nights).
With a certain irony, it was in the three towns closest to where my little Adventure is set (at Brimham Rocks in the Yorkshire Dales), York, Harrogate and Leeds, that Waterstone’s branches declined my request to sign.
Borders, however, kindly and eagerly adopted Curd and helped me pass on some 82 copies to the citizens of York (2 visits) and Leeds! Good on you!
Hearty thanks to all those to put up with me (hosting and listening) and especially all those who bought my book. I hope none are disappointed.
* In order of appearance (at): Dorchester, Bridport, Yeovil, Bath, Newton Abbot, Torquay, Plymouth, Exeter, Wells, Weston-Super-Mare, Oxford, Trowbridge, Swindon, Bath (again), Chester, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Altrincham, York & Leeds (Borders), Manchester Trafford Centre, Northallerton, Darlington, Durham, Middlesborough, York (Borders again), Witney, Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester, Cheltenham and finally Bristol Galleries.
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